Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

The study was conducted based on the data gathered from primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected using questionnaire survey of 104 households of marginal communities in Kalinchwok and Gaurisankher Rural Municipality of Dolakha district along with key informant interviews in 2017. Agriculture and livestock was the main source of livelihood in Surel and Thami community. Both communities were facing emergence of diseases and pests in farmland and livestock. About 23% respondents in Surel community and 33% respondents in Thami communities faced food deficit as they were the people under poverty line. Most of the respondents reported changes in climate, agriculture production practices and water availability. Climate data, rainfall and temperature were analyzed to see their trends over time. There was increment of mean annual temperature by 0.02040C per year similarly, data confirmed a increment trend of annual rainfall at the rate of 7.574mm per year. There was increased in Maize production and increased Mosquito problem due to increased in temperature. Forest fire was decreased in surrounding forest of both communities and Rhododendron in forest bloomed early. The people were also facing frequent dry spells. It was found that farmers were practicing some adaptation options such as shifting from large animals to smaller ones, introduction of new varieties of commercial vegetables, crop rotation, surface channels for irrigation, artificial ponds and water tank for the storage of water. However, strong institutional supports are required to build resilience of poor and marginalized community to strengthen the adaptive strategies and practices.